Bracket for supporting table tops and the like



Aug. 7, 1956 G. MERZ BRACKET FOR SUPPORTING TABLE TOPS AND THE LIKEFiled Feb. '20, 1953' INVENTOR. @[Offif 4/7582 WZMM United States PatentBRACKET FOR SUPPORTING TABLE TOPS AND THE LIKE George L. Merz, Hamilton,Ohio Application February 20, 1953, Serial No. 337,961

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-225) This invention relates to improvements in tableswhich are constructed and adapted for ready attachment to parts of anautomobile body.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tablestructure having a special bracket adapted to be connected to thegrillwork of modern automobile constructions, to the end, that a tabletop can be supported thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivetable structure which can be detachably connected to the outside of anautomobile, so that means can be served thereon, or the same used forcard games and other purposes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automobileattachable table, the parts of which can be readily separated and placedin a small space in the usual automobile luggage compartment.

These and various other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the table, shown attached to thegrillwork of an automobile, with the grillwork broken away and insections.

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1 with aportion of the table top broken away to show one of the brackets in fulllines.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing one of thebrackets attached to the grille of the automobile and showing the tabletop in broken lines.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the brackets.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on line 88of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen, that numeral 10 generally refers to the hood portion of amodernly designed automobile. Many of these models have a grillestructure generally referred to by numeral 11 and these grilles aregenerally made up of two or more transversely disposed and channelledbars, there being two represented in the drawings and noted by numerals12, 13. These bars are spaced from each other and the lower edges aregenerally provided with inturned flange portions 14.

Numeral 15 generally refers to one of the two brackets employed tosupport a table top denoted by numeral 16. The table top may be of anydesired length that can be sturdily supported on the spaced brackets 15and may be simply a piece of a ply board.

Each bracket 15 consists of an upright and this upright is constructedof a single piece of strap material bent upon itself to provide, for thepurpose of reinforcement a pair of sides, 17, 18. These sides or legs17, 18 are pressed together and may be welded together if desired, theupper end of the leg 18 having a rear- 2 wardly and forwardly bentchanneled member defining a hook 19.

The bracket 15 further includes an arm 20 having an end portion 21. Thelegs 17, 18 are formed with registering openings to receive the endportion 21, whereby the arm 20 is held rigidly and horizontally withrespect to the vertically disposed legs 17, 18. The free end of theportion is preferably welded to the leg 18, as at 22.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the end 21 isbifurcated, forming a pair of feet which project through two openings inthe leg 17a, and through two openings in the other leg 18a, to hold leg17 and leg 18 firmly together.

Figures 7 and 8 show another form of the invention wherein the legs 17cand are welded together as at 18d and the arm 200 is welded to the leg17c as at 20d.

The use and operation of this structure above described takes intoconsideration that the brackets set forth in the above description andillustrated in Figures 4 and 6 may be slightly modified to accommodatedifferent grille constructions.

The bracket 15 is easily applied. There will be two of these bracketsfor each table and of course the table top 16 is simply laid across thebracket arms 20 when the table is to be used.

The brackets 15 are individually applied. The brackets are simply tiltedupwardly so that the hooks 19 can be placed under the flange 14, this inrespect to the grille bar 12 and then the bracket is pulled forwardly sothat the hook will engage over the flange 14. Thereupon the bracket islowered so that the leg 18 of the vertical portion of the bracket willcome to rest against the underlying grille bar 13. Thus the bracket ispositioned firmly in place and when two of these brackets have been thuspositioned, the board or table top 16 can be placed in position bridgingthese brackets as to the extent shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this mannera table for eating purposes or for playing cards, etc., can be quicklyprovided when outdoor Weather conditions permit.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new 1s:

A bracket comprising an upright of fiat material, a forwardly extendinghook formed integrally with the upper end of said upright, and ahorizontal arm aflixed to said upright and extending forwardlytherefrom, said upright comprising a U-shaped member having legs weldedto each other and each provided with a pair of vertically spacedhorizontally registering openings, and said arm being bifurcated at itsrearward end to form a pair of vertically spaced feet each receivable inan opening in each of the legs and welded to the U-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.22,644 Stroben May 22, 1945 1,723,238 Hoot Aug. 16, 1929 1,836,511Steverns Dec. 15, 1931 1,903,900 Martin Apr. 18, 1933 2,229,516 MetzgerIan. 21, 1941 2,297,883 Glover Oct. 6, 1942 2,323,425 Seiler July 6,1943 2,492,230 Lighten Dec. 27, 1949 2,501,065 Longeway Mar. 21, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS 122,089 Sweden of 1948 Patented Aug. 7, 1956'

